GAVIN VAREJES

CEO OF RICHMARK HOLDINGS AND CO-FOUNDER OF SARLA

About Gavin Varejes

Sport enthusiast Gavin Varejes not only loves rugby and the Sharks, he is also passionate about a huge variety of other sports and teams. The owner of a considerable collection of sports memorabilia; proudly displayed in his Sandton office, Gavin puts a considerable amount of effort this past-time and his impressive collection is proof of that. He regularly attends games and is also encouraging sporting activity in his children. Trent Varejes; Gavin’s son is an example of his passion being infectious. The young man is a top class indoor go-karting competitor and also tremendously skilled on his BMX. He joins Dad, Gavin, and the rest of the family in watching rugby and soccer games and tries his hand at other sports like snowboarding, quad biking and motor-cross when the opportunities are presented.

South African Rugby Legends Association

Through years of political strife, one thing has always managed to bring people together regardless of race or background; sport. South Africa is indeed a sporting nation. Together with John Allan and a group of contemporaries, Gavin Varejes started SARLA (South African Rugby Legends Association). The idea behind this group was to use former big names in sport to promote amateur rugby games and to form a basis for charity events. Over a short period of three years after starting SARLA, Gavin and John achieved unprecedented success for club and under-privileged rugby. Now, a decade later with a new CEO at the helm; former rugby legend Stefan Terblanche, SARLA have not lost momentum and is still bringing rugby to disadvantaged areas as well as being a charitable force to be reckoned with.

Further Charity Work

Gavin Varejes does not limit his fundraising to only events and causes pertaining to sport. He has wide ranging charitable interests and his reputation as humanitarian is said to exceed his reputation as business magnate. With Gavin’s contacts in the business world he has managed to procure sponsorship from industry giants like BMW South Africa, big names in leisure like Tsogo Sun, esteemed retailers like HiFi Corporation and one of the top three cellular providers in South Africa; MTN. Gavin Varejes arranges events and sponsorships to raise funds for a variety of causes like the Ernie Els Autism charity, Kirsty Watts Foundation and recently the Joint Aid Management in aid of their Team Red Bowl program dealing with nutrition in Africa and America. ​

At Home and at Work with Gavin Varejes

​While sport and charity work are Gavin’s passions in life, nothing is held dearer to his heart than his family. When seeing Gavin Varejes and his wife of over twenty years together, it is impossible not to smile. This is a couple that shares a deep connection. Their union was blessed with two children, Cayli and Trent. The family enjoy going on holidays together destinations like the south coast village Uvongo, located in Gavin’s beloved KwaZulu-Natal. Gavin Varejes is the CEO of Richmark; a holding investment company for a substantial group of companies chosen by Gavin for their potential of contributing to the South African economy.